“Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:” Proverbs 30:7 Agur now turns from speaking about God’s Word to praying directly to God. His prayer is striking because of its simplicity. He does not ask for fame, influence, comfort, or long life. He asks for two things, which the next verses show are spiritual integrity and a life of balanced dependence upon God. His priorities reveal what he believed mattered most before death. The phrase “before I die” gives the prayer urgency. Agur understands that life is limited and that there are things more important than temporary success. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Remembering that our time is short should not make us fearful; it should make us deliberate about what we pursue. Agur also teaches us that prayer can be specific. He knows exactly what he wants God to work into his life. James 4:2 says, “ye have not, because ye ask not.” Sometimes our prayers remain vague because we have not seriously considered what we most need spiritually. Agur had thought carefully about the dangers he faced and brought those needs plainly before God. His request also shows dependence. He says, “deny me them not,” recognizing that the life he desires cannot be produced by willpower alone. Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Spiritual stability, wisdom, and faithfulness require the continual help of God. This verse challenges us to examine what we would ask God for if we could narrow our prayers down to what mattered most. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Our prayers often reveal our priorities. If most of what we ask for concerns comfort and circumstances, while little concerns character and holiness, our priorities may need adjustment. Practically, Proverbs 30:7 encourages us to pray with eternity in view. Life moves quickly, and we should not wait until old age to become serious about the person we are becoming. Ask God now for the things that will matter when your life is finished. The wisest prayers are often not requests for easier circumstances, but requests that God make us faithful within whatever circumstances He gives.

“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6 After declaring in the previous verse that “Every word of God is pure,” Agur gives the natural conclusion: if God’s Word is already perfect, man has no right to improve, alter, or add to it. To add to Scripture is to act as though God left something incomplete. Agur warns that doing so ultimately makes the person, not God, the liar. This principle appears throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.” Revelation 22:18 gives a similar warning against adding unto “the words of the prophecy of this book.” God takes His words seriously because they carry His authority, not ours. Jesus strongly condemned the same problem when religious tradition was elevated to the level of God’s commandment. He said, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mark 7:13). We can add to God’s Word not only by literally changing its text, but also by presenting our own preferences, traditions, or opinions as though God Himself commanded them. This requires humility. It is easy to confuse “I strongly believe this” with “the Bible clearly says this.” Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to be “rightly dividing the word of truth.” We should be careful to distinguish between what Scripture explicitly teaches, what can reasonably be inferred from Scripture, and what is simply our own judgment. The warning “lest he reprove thee” also reminds us that God Himself is the defender of His Word. Human ideas may sound convincing for a time, but anything that contradicts what God has spoken will eventually be exposed. Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Practically, Proverbs 30:6 should make us very careful with phrases like “God says” or “the Bible teaches.” Before placing God’s authority behind a belief, we should make certain Scripture actually supports it. God’s Word does not need our additions; it needs our submission. The safest position is not to make Scripture say what we want, but to allow Scripture to correct what we already think.